Device for facilitating darning



Ct 22, 1935 A. A. s'roREY v DEVICE FOR FACILITATING DARNING Filed Aug.7, 1954 lill III Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.Application August 7, 1934, Serial No. 738,871 In Great BritainSeptember 1, 1933 5 claims. (o1. 223-100) This invention relates todevices for use in the operation of darning and it concerns inparticular those of the kind consisting of a holder over which theportion of the stocking, sock or other article to be darned is stretchedto expose the hole.

'Ihe object of the invention isV to improve holders of the kindconcerned whereby the darning operation is facilitated and a neat darncan be made without skill or the exercise of care such as was heretoforenecessary.

According to the invention there is provided in, on or for a darningholder of the kind concerned a part having open guides (for examplechannels or grooves) said part being adapted when the holder is in useto present its open guides under the hole to be darned so that they mayserve to guide or position the darning needle across from one side ofthe hole to the other.

The invention is more particularly characterized in that the guidingchannels or grooves are separated by walls or partitions upon the upperedges of which the bars of yarn of the rst series are supported aftervcompletion of the series and the changing of the position of the worksupport, so as to facilitate the formation of the second series byinterweaving of the bars of yarn of both series.

I will now describe, with reference to the accompanying drawing, apractical form and construction of darning holder constituting aconvenient example of my invention.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the holder.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the holder in its normalcondition.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional elevation of the holder with the innerhead or top lowered.

Figure 4 is a plan of the holder.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the holder in use in one position, and

Figure 6' is a perspective view of the Vholder in use in anotherposition.

Referring to the drawing, in this example, the holder body I is ofmushroom shape and made of Wood or other suitable material e. g.Vulcanite, Bakelite or the like. The top 2 of the body has a centralcircular recess 3, and a stem 4 (which serves as the handle) boredcentrally throughout its length. For part of its length extendingfromthe bottom of therecess the said stem has a counterbore 5 whichterminates in a shoulder 6.

The needle guiding part in the holder is preferably made of aluminium,`but it may be made of other material like .the:.holder, andcomprises acircular head 1 domed on the top side 8 and having on its underside ashank 9 extending rigidly and centrally therefrom. The said head andshank may be integral with each other but the shank is preferablyscrewed into a central boss 5 I0 on the underside of the head 1 as shownin Figure 2. The domed top 8 of the head'has cut or otherwise formedacross it a series of parallel open channels or grooves II equallyspaced. These may, for instance, consist of saw cuts. The 1.0 uncutportions or ribs I2 of the top of the head stand up between the channelsor grooves as walls. The head 1 may be cast or moulded in this forminstead of being sawcut. The head is iiat on its underside around theboss I0 and the l5 channels or grooves are cut or formed to a depthuniform with the underside of the head, but as the top of the head isdomed the channels or grooves I I at the centre of the head arenaturally deeper than those near the edge, as shown in 20 Figure 3.

The circular recess 3 is of such diameter as to leave a narrow marginalportion I3 of the top 2 surrounding it this portion being rounded asshown. The inner channelled head 1 iits com- 25 fortably within therecess 3 and the latter is of sufficient depth to enable the said innerhead to sink or be withdrawn into the top 2 as shown in Figure 3.

The shank 9 extends through the holder stem 30 4 and is slidable axiallytherein to move the head 1 up and down in the recess 3. Surrounding theshank on the head 1 is a compression spring I4 which is housed in thecounterbore 5 and bears at one end against the shoulder 6 and at the 35other end against the underside of the boss IIJ. The spring tends tokeep the head 1 raised in the recess as shown in Figure 2. The shank 9projects through the lower end of the body stem 4 and has screwed uponit a collar, knob or handle 4.0 I5 on the inner face of which nearestthe end of the body stem is a peg or other projection I6. The lower endof the body stem which Vopposes the inner face just mentioned is formedwith notches I1 there being four of these formations 45 disposed at anangle of apart.

The said peg or other projection I6 and notches I1 constitute lockingmeans and the action is as followsz-The spring tends to press the head 1out of the recess 3 but this action is limited by 50 contact of thecollar, knob or handle with the adjacent end of the stem as shown inFigures 1 and 2. In 'normal position (Figures `1 and 2) 'the innerchannelled head is held up in the re- `cess so that its domed topprojects suciently to 55 be available for use in the manner hereinafterdescribed. When the parts are in this position f the peg or projectionIE on the face of the collar,

knob or handle I5 is located in one of the notches in the stem 4 andthus prevents rotation of the shank 9 inthe latter. To turn thechannelled head I within the holder body 2 it is first necessary to pullthe shank 9 down or outwards against the action of the spring towithdraw the Ypeg or projection I6 from the notch in which it issituated. This is done by means of the collar, knob or handle I5 and theaxial movement of the lat- `is flat between the notches and during theturn- -ing ofthe shank the peg or projection I6 may be allowed to rideagainst the said flat end as shown I in Figure 3, which prevents theshank 9 from receding'under the spring influence. When, however, the pegor projection I6 comes to the next notch it drops into same ltherebyallowing the spring I4 topush the inner channelled head up within therecess thus restoring it to normal position; the engagement of the pegor projection IB with the nextV notch again locks the parts againstrelative rotation. It will thus be seen that the arrangement describedensures the channelled head 'I being withdrawn prior to and duringturning thereof and also determines the position to'which the said headis turned in the holder body.' In other words it prevents turningwithout withdrawal. The head I can be turned, when free, in eitherdirection.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, in using this device it is placed with thehead 'l under the hole I8 to be darned and the fabric I9 kisrstretchedover the top of the device and held by hand with or Without a fasteningsuch as an elastic band, tape or string placed over the fabric round thehandle. The channels or grooves II are thus exposed within the hole.lThe darning needle 20 is passed to and fro across the hole through thechannels or grooves I I as represented in Figure 5 to form the usualfirst series of bars 2| (warps) which are accordingly located in thesaid channels or grooves, as represented by the few bars in Figure 5.

In the operation of darning as properly performed the darning needleafter being withdrawn to draw the yarn through one edge of the` hole isre-inserted through the same edge at a point a little distance from thepoint of its withdrawal so as to space the-bars of yarn. V This spacingis facilitated by the use of the needleV guiding part l'the channels orgrooves II of which extend under the edges ofthe hole I8, the spacingbeing determined by using the guides one after another when insertingthe needle, as represented inY Figure 5. Thatis t'o say, when the yarnis drawn through one edge of the hole at a point e. g'. 22Vcoincidentwith a channel vor groove II the needle is inserted'through said edge,to form the next'bar, e. g. at a point 23 coincident with the nextchannel or groove, and so on at oppo- Vv,site sides Vof the hole. Y

The channels II are parallel to each other and extend Vacross the part'I in one direction as shown in Figure 4. The bars 2l when formed remainin their respectivechannels or grooves until the head I is withdrawn andturned, as previously described, to free it from the bars 2|, whereuponas shown in Figure 6, said bars become stretched or laid across the topsof the dividing walls I2, which therefore constitute supports for saidbars, and the channels or grooves II are brought to right angularposition for inserting the second series of bars.

As shown in Figure 6, being thus supported with channels or groovesunderneath the bars of 10 the first series are in a favourable positionto Y enable the darning needle guided by the channels or grooves II tobe passed alternately under and over them to form the second series 24(wefts) interlaced with theV first. 15 In Figure 6 the bars are shownrelatively thin and well spaced for clearness, but, as will beunderstood, when fairly thick wool is used the bars may practicallytouch when the work 1s removed from the holder so as to close the hole.20 The domed top 8 projects upward slightly through the hole and thusprovides better access to the channels II and Yto the bars of yarn whensupported by said part.

The specic example described is particularly 25 yuseful since it enablesfull advantage to be taken of the needle guides for working In bothdirections without disturbing the set of the Work on the holder afterthe formation of the first series of bars across the hole. This iorm ofholder 30 enables the guides to be used in making the rst series of barsand then while the work and holder are still held, the part with theguides can be turned to position the guides crosswise under the bars sothat they can be used when 35 making the second series of barsinterlaced with the iirst. y

The withdrawable and rotatable part I of the holder may be removablefromthe holder body (as for example by unscrewing the collar, knob o orhandle I5 from the shank) so as to be interchangeable with other similarparts having a different number of channels or grooves to the inch. Inthis Way the device can be adapted for use for close or coarse darningaccordling to 45 requirements.

Instead of cutting the channels or grooves in the needle guiding part orproducing same by a moulding process, these may be produced by theinsertion of-blades or plates to form the dividing walls or partitions.

The channels or groovesIl are preferably distributed over the Wholeupper surface of the head I so as to present an adequate number ofguides under the hole to be darned.

My invention includes within its ambit a part, having open guides asaforesaid, adapted for use by itself, for example it may bein the formof a disc, plate or like member, or for application to and use With'aholder of the kind concerned in m which case it may, for instancabe inthe form of a cap, cover or the'like and be appropriate for use uponexisting holders. My principal intention, however, is to incorporate theneedleY guiding part in a holder body such as I, in which 65 case thesaid Ypart may be either movable axially and rotatable as aforesaid orformed as an integral portion of the holder body, for instance the guidegrooves or channels might be cut or other- Wise formed in the top of theholder, or a part 7o having the guides rand walls might be applied toVthe holder body such, for example, as by being a holder body, and aneedle guiding part having a l series of parallel Walls of heights whichdiminish gradually from the center of the part to the edge and combinedwith the holder body in such a way that said part and body are capableof relative rotation and axial movement, whereby, when the device is inuse with the needle guiding part under the hole to be darned, the spacesbetween the walls serve to guide the darning needle in forming the usualilrst series of bars of yarn forming warps and when the relativepositions of the walls and Work are changed so as to bring the walls atright angles to the warps, the walls support the warps upon their upperedges so as to facilitate the passage of the darning needle alternatelyunder and over the warps while the spaces gui-de the needle in formingthe second series of bars forming wefts.

2. A device for facilitating darning comprising a holder body, a needleguiding part having a series of parallel walls of heights which diminishgradually from the center of the part to the edge and rotatably combinedwith the holder body as Well as being adapted to be withdrawn into thesaid body so as to enable the spaces between the walls to be used in oneposition for guiding the darning needle in forming the usual rst seriesof bars of yarn forming warps, then withdrawn into the holder body tofree said warps and then turned and projected to its normal position soas to bring the walls under the warps at right angles thereto so thatthe walls support the Warps upon their upper edges so as to facilitatevthe passage of the darning needle alternately under and over the warpswhile the spaces guide the needle in forming the second series of barsforming wefts, and means for determining the rotational positions of theneedle guiding part and locking same in said positions.

3. A device for facilitating darning comprising a holder body, a worksupporting top, a needle guiding part with parallel walls of heightswhich diminish gradually from the center of the part to the edge andform between them spaces for guiding the darning needle during formationof the usual warp and weft bars of yarn, said part being rotatable andmovable axially within the holder body, means operable exteriorly of theholder body to rotate the needle guiding part within the body While thework remains on the top for the purpose of bringing the walls under thewarps at right angles thereto so that when the needle guiding part isagain projected the walls support the warps upon their upper edges so asto facilitate the passage of the darning needle alternately under andover the warps while the spaces guide the needle during formation .ofthe wefts, means for determining the rotational positions of the needleguiding part and locking same in said positions, and a spring acting inan axial direction for controlling the needle 5 guiding part andensuring engagement of the locking means.

4. A device for facilitating darning comprising a holder body consistingof a circular top with a central circular recess and a hollow stemcounterbored for a portion of its length from the inner end and formedwith notches spaced at 90 apart at its lower end, a needle guiding partconsisting of a circular domed head with parallel yarn supporting wallswhich diminish in height from the center of the head to the edge andform between them spaces for guiding the darning needle during theformation of the usual warp and weft bars of yarn, a central shankscrewed into the head, said head and shank tting both rotatably 2 andslidably in the circular recess and hollow stem respectively with theshank projecting from the lower end of the stem, a compression springaround the shank in the counterbored part of the stein for holding thehead raised in the circular recess, a handle on the lower end of theshank for withdrawing the head into the recess against the spring actionand turning same in the holder body, while the work remains on the top,for thev purpose of bringing the walls under the warps at right anglesthereto, so that when the head is again projected the walls support thewarps, at different heights upon their upper edges so as to facilitatethe passage of the darning needle alternately under and over the warpswhile the spaces guide the needle during the formation ol' the wefts,and a projection on the handle for engagement with the notched stemunder the spring action, said projection and notches constitutinglocking means for determining the ro- 0 tational positions of the needleguiding part and holding same in such positions.

5. A darning implement of the character described, comprising a casingand an encased last. the latter being provided with a series of parallelwalls forming intervening channels constituting guides for the passageof the darning needle during the laying of the warp threads or yarns,and constituting supports forv the latter above said channels While theWoof threads or yarns are be- 5o ing laid, the said last beingadjustable within the casing for the purpose of changing the position ofthe guiding and supporting means relatively to the work after theformation of the warps.

ARNOLD ARTHUR STOREY.

